Filter Element Having an End-Side Stand

ABSTRACT

A filter element for filtering a fluid is connectable to a filter head with a drainage channel. The filter element has a closure element that closes the drainage channel of the filter head when the filter element is connected to the filter head. The closure element is eccentrically arranged relative to a longitudinal axis of the filter element at an end face of the filter element. The closure element extends away from the end face of the filter element in an axial direction of the filter element. A stand is locked at the filter element and extends away from the end face of the filter element in the axial direction to a level of a free end of the closure element or past the free end of the closure element.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of international application No. PCT/EP2018/072104 having an international filing date of 15 Aug. 2018 and designating the United States, the international application claiming a priority date of 15 Aug. 2017 based on prior filed German patent application No. 10 2017 007 653.7 and a priority date of 15 Aug. 2017 based on prior filed German patent application No. 10 2017 007 654.5, the entire contents of the aforesaid international application and the two aforesaid German patent applications being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a filter element for the filtration of a fluid, in particular fuel or oil, in particular for the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The filter element comprises a closure element by means of which a drainage channel of a filter head provided for connecting the filter element thereto is closable. The closure element is arranged at an end face of the filter element eccentrically relative to the longitudinal axis of the filter element and extends away from the end face of the filter element in axial direction.

In accordance with one construction, the aforementioned filter elements can be inserted into an openable filter housing with a filter head and a housing part fastenable to the filter head, for example, a housing cover. Such a filter element is disclosed, for example, in DE 20 2012 000 417 U1. Moreover, filter elements are available on the market also as so-called exchangeable filter cartridges or spin-on filter cartridges. In these filter elements, a filter insert is captively arranged in a housing part and forms together therewith a constructive unit that is easy to handle. The filter element can be directly screwed with its housing part to the filter head and is discarded together with the housing part in case of an exchange.

DE 10 2015 103 662 A1 discloses a filter with a filter housing and with an exchangeable filter insert that separates a raw side and a clean side of the filter from each other. The filter housing comprises an eccentric drainage opening in its bottom. A sealing element, which can be integrally formed at a bottom side of a bottom end disc of the filter insert, serves for closing the drainage opening. In the mounted state, the filter insert is pushed with a central opening provided in its bottom end disc onto a tubular socket-shaped outlet of the filter housing. A radial seal of the filter insert surrounds the central opening in the bottom end disc. In the mounted state, the radial seal is sealed-tightly resting against the tubular socket-shaped outlet. The radial seal can extend away from the bottom end disc in axial direction to approximately the level of the free end of the sealing element or slightly past it. The bottom end disc can be formed as one piece together with the sealing element and the radial seal and can be comprised as a whole of a thermoplastic elastomer. If it were attempted to place the filter insert onto its bottom side with the radial seal and the sealing element, there would therefore be the danger that the radial seal and/or the sealing element become damaged.

WO 2016/004365 A1 discloses a filter insert which comprises a central opening, a sealing element for engaging a drainage opening of a standpipe of a filter housing, and a rib which extends at least partially about the central opening. The rib is interrupted at the sealing element in order to enable engagement of the sealing element in the drainage opening. Radially inside of the circumferentially extending rib, the filter insert comprises a receptacle for an annular seal which surrounds in a ring shape the central opening. The annular seal is embodied as one piece together with the sealing element. The receptacle comprises a passage for a connecting section between the sealing element and the annular seal. In axial direction, the receptacle engages across the annular seal and projects past the circumferentially extending rib. The circumferentially extending rib and the receptacle for the annular seal are embodied together as one piece and are screw-connected with the filter insert. This filter insert comprises a complex configuration with a plurality of components that must be sealed relative to each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide an easily and economically producible filter element for a drainage channel of a filter head that is provided with a closure element protected from becoming damaged.

The object is solved according to the invention by a filter element with the following features:

a closure element for closing a drainage channel of a filter head provided for connecting the filter element thereto, wherein the closure element is eccentrically arranged relative to the longitudinal axis of the filter element at an end face of the filter element and extends away from the end face of the filter element in the axial direction,

wherein the filter element comprises a stand locked at the filter element which extends away from the end face of the filter element in the axial direction to the level of the free end of the closure element or past the free end of the closure element.

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims and the description.

According to the invention, the filter element comprises a stand which extends in axial direction away from the end face of the filter element to the level of the free end of the closure element or past the free end of the closure element. With such a stand, the filter element, notwithstanding the interfering contour caused by the closure element, can be placed on a support surface, in particular a conveyor belt, with its end face that comprises the closure element facing in downward direction. Moreover, a protection of the closure element relative to a mechanical damage during the manufacturing and packaging process as well as during transport can be ensured by the stand. Thus, tearing off or shearing off the closure element from the filter element can be counteracted. In particular, in case that the closure element comprises an elastomeric sealing element or is comprised of an elastomer, a disadvantageous injury of the sensitive elastomer material can be prevented. In this way, impairment of the sealing ability of the closure element is counteracted. In this way, further components of the filter element can be protected also from mechanical damage by means of the stand according to the invention. According to the invention, the stand is locked at the filter element. This enables a particularly simple and inexpensive manufacture of the filter element. Such a locking connection of the stand and of the filter element can be designed additionally to be releasable in order to be able to mount the filter element optionally at filter heads or in a housing part which do not permit use of a filter element with such a stand. The filter element may comprise a filter insert with a filter medium. The locking action is advantageously designed such that the stand, relative to the filter insert with the filter medium, is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the filter element, in particular without the axial position of the stand changing relative to the filter insert with the filter medium upon rotation.

Thanks to the stand, the filter element according to the invention can be put down with its end face provided with the closure element without falling over. In this way, the filter element is conveyor belt-suitable which is advantageous in particular for an economic mass production of such filter elements. Moreover, the closure element that comprises for the purpose of a satisfactory sealing ability advantageously a sealing element of an elastomer or can be comprised of an elastomer is protected from damage by means of the stand during manufacture, the packaging process, transport, and assembly of the filter element. The stand itself is typically configured to be robust so that it cannot be damaged easily. Should the stand become damaged nevertheless, the filter element typically remains functional despite of this because the stand in particular has no sealing function. Due to the locking action, the stand can be connected particularly easily to the filter element. Due to the locking action, in an advantageous way a rotatability of the stand about the longitudinal axis can be additionally provided wherein the axial position of the stand at the filter element upon rotation does not change.

According to a preferred further embodiment of the invention, the stand is of a cylindrical shape. In other words, the stand comprises in this case the shape of an annular socket or of a sleeve. In this embodiment of the stand, the stand can be embodied particularly robust relative to mechanical loads. Moreover, mounting of the stand at the filter element can be simplified. The stand can be arranged in particular coaxially relative to the longitudinal axis of the filter element.

According to the invention, the stand can have a free rim without steps or, preferably, can have a free rim which is corrugated or stepped. In both of the latter cases, undesirable adhesion forces of the stand at a contact surface, in particular in case of moisture, can be counteracted. Moreover, the material expenditure required for manufacturing the stand can be minimized in this way.

The stand comprises according to a preferred further embodiment of the invention several tooth-shaped or spike-shaped profiled projections which are arranged spaced apart from each other in circumferential direction of the filter element. The profiled projections can be arranged in particular so as to extend parallel to each other at the filter element. In this way, a crown-shaped configuration of the stand results as a whole. In regard to a satisfactory standing stability of the filter element, the stand enables preferably at least a three-point support of the filter element on a support surface.

The filter element can comprise an annular sealing element at its end face provided with the closure element. Such an annular sealing element enables a sealing seat of the filter element at the filter head.

The closure element according to the invention can be arranged in radial direction outside of the stand. In other words, the stand is in this case arranged in radial direction within a circular line which surrounds the longitudinal axis and on which the closure element is arranged. In this way, the stand can be realized with a particularly minimal material expenditure. In regard to positioning of the filter element as tilt-stable as possible, an embodiment of the invention has however been found to be particularly advantageous in which the closure element is arranged in radial direction within the stand. In this embodiment, the stand thus surrounds the closure element in radial direction. In this way, the closure element can be particularly reliably protected from damages.

The aforementioned annular sealing element can be arranged outside or inside the stand. In the first case, the stand is preferably not, or only minimally, spaced apart from the annular sealing element in radial direction in order to be able to provide protection from mechanical damage also for the annular sealing element.

The stand according to the invention can be rotatably adjustable at the filter element about the longitudinal axis of the filter element, preferably relative to a filter insert of the filter element and in particular for a constant axial position of the stand relative to the filter insert. This can facilitate an attachment of the filter element at the filter head or an installation of the filter element in a housing part with such a filter head, in particular when the stand comprises a rim region with a stepped configuration or is comprised of several spaced apart segments. When the closure element is arranged at a support ring which is rotatably supported at the filter element about the longitudinal axis of the filter element, the stand can also be attached to the support ring, in particular integrally formed thereat. In this case, the support ring and the stand are therefore rotatably adjustable together about the longitudinal axis of the filter element.

The stand can be embodied as one piece with respect to possible beneficial manufacturing costs of the filter element. Particularly preferred, the stand is embodied in this context as an injection-molded plastic part.

The filter element according to the invention can be embodied as a filter insert for an openable housing part that comprises the filter head and a housing cover fastenable to the filter head. The filter element in this case does not have its own housing with which the filter element forms a constructive unit. In this configuration, the stand is preferably locked at an end disc of the filter insert.

According to an alternative embodiment, the filter element can also be designed as a so-called exchangeable filter cartridge which is also referred to as spin-on filter cartridge. In this configuration, the filter element comprises a filter housing that is provided with a threaded connector for the filter head. The exchangeable filter cartridge can therefore be screwed directly into a counter thread of the filter head corresponding to the threaded connector. The exchangeable filter cartridge when exchanged is discarded as a whole. In this configuration, the stand is typically locked at a cover section of the filter housing.

According to a preferred further embodiment of the invention, the closure element can be arranged at a support ring which is rotatably supported at the filter element about the longitudinal axis of the filter element. In this way, the closure element of the filter element, in particular when it is configured as an exchangeable filter cartridge, can be positioned in a simplified way in a predetermined mounting position at the filter head in which the closure element fluid-tightly closes the drainage channel of the filter head. Preferably, the support ring is secured positionally fixed in axial direction at the filter element. The rotatory configuration of the support ring and of the closure element relative to the filter element can then be adjusted with constant axial position.

The support ring can have at least a first positioning pin by means of which the support ring, when mounting the filter element at the filter head, can be aligned in a rotary position that is axially aligned with the drainage channel. The filter head comprises for this purpose preferably a stop element for the positioning pin. Typically, it is provided that the first positioning pin extends away from the support ring in axial direction. In this way, the first positioning pin, when mounting the filter element at the filter head, can be brought particularly easily into engagement with the stop element.

It can be provided that furthermore a second positioning pin extends away from the support ring in axial direction and, in circumferential direction of the filter element, is spaced apart from the first positioning pin. With the second positioning pin, the rotary position of the closure element can be secured, in particular when demounting the filter element from the filter head. Preferably, the first positioning pin projects past the second positioning pin in axial direction. In this way, it is possible to provide that, when mounting the filter element at the filter head, the first positioning pin engages first a stop element and, when demounting, the second positioning pin is disengaged first.

The invention will be explained in the following with the aid of the embodiments illustrated in the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a filter element embodied as an exchangeable filter cartridge with a closure element eccentrically arranged at an end face at a support ring and with a stand arranged at the end face and extending away from the filter element in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the filter element past the closure element, in a perspective view.

FIG. 2 shows the filter element according to FIG. 1 in a side view.

FIG. 3 shows the filter element according to FIG. 1 in a partially exploded illustration of its parts.

FIG. 4 shows a filter element similar to the filter element according to FIG. 1 with a smaller stand which is arranged in radial direction inside the support ring.

FIG. 5 shows the filter element according to FIG. 4 in a sectional perspective detail illustration.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a filter element 10 for filtering a fluid, in particular lubricant oil for the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, which is embodied here in the form of an exchangeable filter cartridge. Such exchangeable filter cartridges are also referred to as spin-on filter cartridges or spin-on filter elements. The filter element 10 comprises thus a filter housing 12 of metal or plastic material and a filter insert 14 with a filter medium arranged captively in the filter housing 12 which is illustrated in FIG. 1 only in a greatly simplified schematic way with dashed line. The longitudinal axis of the filter element 10 is identified by 16.

The filter element 10 comprises an end face 18 with several inlet openings 20 for the fluid to be filtered and with a single centrally arranged outlet opening 22 for the filtered fluid. The inlet openings 20 are arranged here in an exemplary fashion spaced apart from each other in a ring shape about the longitudinal axis 16. The inlet openings 20 as well as the outlet opening 22 are formed in a cover section 24 of the filter housing 12. The cover section 24 is crimped at the rim with a side wall section 26 of the filter housing 12 or is fluid-tightly connected in a different way. A screw thread 28 serves for screwing the filter element 10 into a thread of a filter head (not illustrated). A screw-in direction of the filter element 10 is identified by 30.

A support ring 32 is attached to the filter element 10 so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis 16 of the filter element 10. The support ring 32 is positionally fixed in axial direction at the filter element 10 and can be directly hooked, for example, at the cover section 24 of the filter housing 12. At the support ring 32 a closure element 34 is arranged that serves for closing a drainage channel of a filter head (not illustrated) to which the filter element 10 is connected in the filtering operation. The closure element 34 is advantageously comprised for the purpose of a reliable sealing action of an elastomer or comprises an elastomeric sealing element. The closure element 34 can be held in a receptacle 36 of the support ring 32. Alternatively, the closure element 34 can also be integrally formed, injection-molded at the support ring 32 or fastened in a different way at the support ring 32.

A first positioning pin 38 can extend in axial direction away from the support ring 32. The first positioning pin 38 serves to lock the support ring 32, when screwing the exchangeable filter cartridge into the thread of the filter head, with its closure element 34 in a rotational position in which the closure element 34 is axially aligned relative to the opening of the drainage channel of the filter head. The filter head comprises for this purpose a stop element (not illustrated) for the first positioning pin 38 by means of which a further rotational entrainment of the support ring 32 in the screw-in direction 30 of the filter element 10 is prevented. In order to advance the closure element 34 in a controlled fashion in axial direction toward the drainage channel of the filter head upon screwing, the support ring 32 is rotatable here relative to the filter housing 12 and relative to the filter insert 14 of the filter element 10, without its axial position changing relative to the filter housing 12 and relative to the filter insert 14.

Furthermore, a second positioning pin 40 can extend away from the support ring 32 in axial direction. The second positioning pin 40 is arranged spaced apart from the first positioning pin 38 in circumferential direction of the filter element 10. The first positioning pin 38 projects past the second positioning pin 40 in the axial direction. Upon complete screwing in of the filter element 10 into the thread of the filter head, the second positioning pin 40 permits a still further improved guiding of the closure element 34 in the axial direction in order to counteract canting of the closure element 34 at the opening rim of the drainage channel (not illustrated). Moreover, contacting of the second positioning pin 40 at the stop element of the filter head can counteract a transverse load of the closure element 34 as well as its shearing off from the support ring 32 when detaching the filter element 10 from the filter head again. An annular sealing element 42 which is attached to the end face at the filter element 10 provides for a seal-tightly contacting of the filter element 10 at the filter head. The annular sealing element 42 can be comprised of a rubbery elastic or visco-plastic deformable material.

At the end face at the filter element 10, a stand 44 is arranged which enables a stable positioning of the filter element 10 with downwardly pointing connector-side end face 18 on a support surface (not illustrated). In this way, handling of the filter element 10 during its manufacture and packaging for shipping and storage can be simplified. The stand 44 extends for this purpose away from the filter element 10 in the axial direction at least to the level of the free end 46 of the closure element 34 and, if present, of the positioning pin or pins 38, 40 and projects past the aforementioned components, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The stand 44 in this embodiment is arranged in the radial direction outside of the closure element 34 so that the closure element 34 and here in addition also the two positioning pins 38, 40 are protectively surrounded by the stand 44. In this way, the closure element 34 and also the positioning pins 38, 40 can be protected especially reliably relative to a mechanical overload or damage. This is in particular advantageous during the manufacturing and packaging process but also during transport as well as removal of the filter element 10 from its packaging or during mounting of the filter element 10 at the filter head.

The stand 44 is preferably embodied as one piece, for example, as an injection-molded plastic part. The stand 44 can be embodied in a cylinder shape, i.e., in the form of a sleeve, and in particular annularly surround the longitudinal axis 16 of the filter element 10. A free rim 48 of the stand 44 can be embodied without steps, corrugated, or, as illustrated in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in a stepped configuration. In the latter case, the stand 44 thus has a crown-shaped configuration with at least three axial projections 50 which are spaced apart from each other in circumferential direction of the filter element 10 and are spike-shaped or tooth-shaped. Due to the stepped free rim 48 of the stand 44, the stand 44 can also be picked up more easily from a support surface in case of moisture or wet conditions in particular during manufacture. In other words, an undesirable adhesion of the stand 44 at the support surface is counteracted. Moreover, the material expenditure for the stand 44 is minimized in this embodiment.

The stand 44 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 can be arranged in the radial direction between the outwardly positioned annular seal and the support ring 32. The stand 44 comprises thus an outer diameter 52 that is greater than the diameter 54 of the support ring 32. In this way, a particularly tilt-stable positioning of the filter element 10 on the stand 44 can be achieved. Moreover, the stand 44 in this case provides for a particularly reliable protection of the annular sealing element 42 which, relative to the stand 44, is positioned radially outwardly, in particular also in case of tipping over of the filter element 10.

The stand 44 is locked at the filter element 10, here at the cover section 24. The stand 44 can be embodied in this context as a component that is separate from the support ring 32 or (as illustrated here) connected to the support ring 32 by means of connecting elements 56, in particular integrally formed thereat, in order to enable a manufacture of the filter element 10 as simple and inexpensive as possible. In the last-mentioned case, the stand 44 is thus rotatably attached together with the support ring 32 at the filter element 10. The support ring 32, in turn, can be hooked at the filter element 10 at the end face, i.e., can be secured thereat by locking, and comprises then for this purpose suitable hook elements 58 as illustrated in FIG. 3. In this case, the stand 44 is locked by means of the support ring 32, embodied as one piece together with it, at the filter element 10, here at its cover section 24. The annular sealing element 42 can be attached in particular to a seal support ring 59. It is understood that the annular sealing element 42 can also be arranged radially further inwardly than illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, a further embodiment of a filter element 10 is illustrated which differs in principle from the filter element 10 above, illustrated in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3, in that the stand 44 in the radial direction is arranged inside of the support ring 32 as well as of the closure element 34. The closure element 34 is thus arranged outside of the stand 44 in the radial direction. The stand 44 comprises thus a smaller outer diameter 52 in comparison to the diameter 54 of the support ring 32. The closure element 34 can comprise an annular (radial) sealing element 60 that preferably is comprised of an elastomer.

In accordance with an embodiment that is not illustrated in detail in the drawing, the filter element 10 can also be embodied in the form of a filter insert for an openable housing part with a housing cover which is releasably connectable to the filter head. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A filter element for filtering a fluid, the filter element configured to be connected to a filter head with a drainage channel; the filter element comprising: a closure element configured to close the drainage channel of the filter head, wherein the closure element is eccentrically arranged relative to a longitudinal axis of the filter element at an end face of the filter element, and wherein the closure element extends away from the end face of the filter element in an axial direction of the filter element; a stand locked at the filter element and extending away from the end face of the filter element in the axial direction to a level of a free end of the closure element or past the free end of the closure element.
 2. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the stand comprises an annular shape.
 3. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the stand is sleeve-shaped.
 4. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the stand comprises a free rim and the free rim has a step-free configuration; a corrugated configuration; or a stepped configuration.
 5. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the stand comprises two or more spike-shaped or tooth-shaped axial projections, wherein the spike-shaped or tooth-shaped axial projections are arranged spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the filter element.
 6. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the closure element is arranged outside of the stand in a radial direction of the filter element.
 7. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the closure element is arranged inside the stand in a radial direction of the filter element.
 8. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the stand is configured to be rotatably adjustable about the longitudinal axis of the filter element.
 9. The filter element according to claim 8, wherein the stand is configured to be rotatably adjustable about the longitudinal axis of the filter element relative to a filter insert of the filter element.
 10. The filter element according to claim 9, wherein the stand is configured to be rotatably adjustable about the longitudinal axis of the filter element at a constant axial position of the stand relative to the filter insert.
 11. The filter element according to claim 8, further comprising a support ring rotatably mounted at the filter element, wherein the closure element is provided on the support ring, and wherein the stand is formed integrally with the support ring.
 12. The filter element according to claim 11, wherein the support ring, rotatably mounted at the filter element, is held positionally fixed in the axial direction at the filter element.
 13. The filter element according to claim 11, wherein the support ring comprises at least one first positioning pin.
 14. The filter element according to claim 13, wherein the at least one first positioning pin extends away from the support ring in the axial direction of the filter element.
 15. The filter element according to claim 14, further comprising a second positioning pin extending away from the support ring in the axial direction of the filter element, wherein the second positioning pin, in a circumferential direction of the filter element, is arranged at a spacing from the at least one first positioning pin.
 16. The filter element according to claim 15, wherein the at least one first positioning pin projects in the axial direction past the second positioning pin.
 17. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the stand is embodied as one piece.
 18. The filter element according to claim 17, wherein the stand is an injection-molded plastic part.
 19. The filter element according to claim 1, embodied as an exchangeable filter cartridge comprising a filter housing and a filter insert fixedly integrated in the filter housing, wherein the end face comprises a screw thread for connecting the filter element to the filter head. 